At its Dec. 14, 2016, meeting the Meadowlands Conservation Trust presented Wood-Ridge resident Cora LoPresti with a Certificate of Appreciation for Environmental Stewardship in recognition of her outstanding volunteer work over the past year to help wetlands and wildlife in the Meadowlands. Cora’s efforts helped her earn the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award.

Cora, now a first-year student at Rutgers University, was a Wood-Ridge High School senior earlier this year when she enlisted her fellow students and community members to build much-needed tree swallow bird boxes and organized a volunteer cleanup of the Skeetkill Creek Marsh, a critical wetlands property in Ridgefield. Cora was advised by the Meadowlands Conservation Trust on her projects.

Tree Swallows nest at a number of sites in the Meadowlands and Hackensack River watershed every spring. According to Cornell’s All About Birds website, “Tree Swallows breed in open habitats such as fields and wetlands, usually adjacent to water. They nest in artificial nest boxes as well as tree cavities. Foraging flocks are frequently seen over wetlands, water, and agricultural fields.” In order to accommodate them, MCT is seeking donated bird boxes or a group that is willing to make the boxes as a community service project.

The MCT has been fortunate to be the recipient of several top scout honor projects from 2012-2014, including 2 Eagle Scout projects and a Girl Scout Gold Award project. We worked closely with the scouts to help them meet the requirements of their projects. Congratulations and thanks go to:
Adam Baczynskyj, Troop 104 of Wayne, NJ donated 82 bird boxes
John Benducci, Troop 1345 of Dumont, NJ donated 50 bird boxes
Katelyn Wise, Troop 986 of Allendale, NJ donated 45 bird boxes

If you would like to help, here are directions for making a Tree Swallow bird box, courtesy of Shaw Creek Bird Supply. Call us in advance to let us know that you are interested in making a donation of bird boxes (201-460-3722). Please note that the MCT will supply the poles.

If you are a caring individual concerned about the welfare of our environment, particularly in the Meadowlands and Hackensack River watershed, we urge you to join Friends of Meadowlands Conservation Trust.

The Meadowlands Conservation Trust (MCT) has a small, dedicated and hardworking staff. We have a land acquisition program that requires continuous maintenance of open space properties for the enjoyment and benefit of the public, as well as the protection of plant and wildlife species. We also have other tasks that we can use assistance with from skilled participants. MCT is looking to establish a strong volunteer program to help in this effort.

Some examples of the help you may provide includes:
* Clean Ups/Litter Control
* Trail Blazing
* Planting and Weeding
* Bird Box Construction and Placement
* Grant Writing Assistance
* Community Outreach

Karen and Bruce Riede are residents of Ridgefield, NJ. Bruce is a retired chemical engineer who worked at Unilever for over 30 years. During the last ten years of his employment, he was manager of Safety and Health. Currently, he is an EMT serving over 40 years with the Ridgefield Ambulance Corps. Karen worked as a registered nurse for 20 years. For the past 12 years, Karen has been a docent at the Bergen County Zoo in their Animal Encounter Program. In this program, a scheduled animal, reptile, or bird is brought to the Armenian Home in Emerson, NJ for an interactive pet therapy session with the residents. They are also actively involved in their faith community at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jersey City, NJ.

Karen has been on the Ridgefield Environmental Commission since 2004; Bruce soon followed in 2005. Karen has served as Chairperson since 2005 and credits her nursing background as being beneficial to serving in this position as she stated, “I consider it environmental nursing and that everyone deserves clean air and water”. In 1996, Karen was a weekly volunteer at the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC). Karen and Bruce share a love and respect for the environment.

The Riedes have been invaluable to the health, beauty and general well being of Skeetkill Creek Marsh Park (Skeetkill), owned by the Meadowlands Conservation Trust (MCT or the Trust) and located in Ridgefield, NJ. Skeetkill was previously owned by the NJMC; however, in 2008, NJMC donated the property to Trust. In 2004, the Ridgefield Environmental Commission sparked a revitalization of the park. It involved the stewardship of: Genzyme Biosurgery, Inc. (the company that adopted the site), the NJMC (tree swallow nest box program) and the Ridgefield Environmental Commission. While working with the NJMC, Karen found out about Meadowlands Conservation Trust and she felt that the Trust would be a great organization to partner with to do what they love best, protecting the environment. When Skeetkill was owned by the NJMC, Karen and Bruce worked with NJMC staff regularly with clean ups and the tree swallow nest box program. In 2008, the property was turned over to the Meadowlands Conservation Trust and the Riedes continued their volunteer work at Skeetkill with the Trust staff.

The Riedes find volunteering for the Trust, the Environmental Commission, GeesePeace and other groups more than rewarding. They both feel it is necessary to take care of the Earth and want to make a difference in their own community and give back. The Ridgefield Environmental Commission’s motto is, “Think Globally. Act Locally”. Mrs. Riede stated, “Volunteering was always part of both of our lives when we were growing up. We met when we were both volunteers on the Ridgefield Ambulance Corps and later married. It is a large part of our lives now; some activities involve us both”. The Riedes view the environmental future as somewhat optimistic. They believe the best thing that they can do for the Borough of Ridgefield is to continue to plant trees and manage the Ridgefield Nature Center and Community Garden areas. “We will continue to get the message out, especially to school-aged students, that we can all do our part to be stewards of the Earth. Each person can make a difference”.